Sickel Cell Anemia

of recessive genetic disorders characterized by a hemoglobin variant called Hb S. Normal

red blood cells are round like doughnuts, and they move through small blood tubes in the

body to deliver oxygen. Sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles

used to cut wheat. When these hard and pointed red cells go through the small blood tube,

they clog the flow and break apart. This can cause pain, damage and a low blood count, or

anemia. There is a substance in the red cell called hemoglobin that carries oxygen inside

the cell. One little change in this substance causes the hemoglobin to form long hard rods

in the red cell when it gives away oxygen. These rigid rods change the red cell into a sickle

For such a little mistake, the consequences are terrible. At the time of conception,

a person receives one set of genes from the mother and a corresponding set of genes from

the father. Sickle cell disease is a condition that is determined by a single pair of genes.

The genes are those which control the production of hemoglobin in red cells. It is a

Disease Control and Prevention currently conducts quality assurance evaluations of state

Cell Anemia Control Act, which called for screening programs. In 1975, the first US state

infections, kidney damage and loss of body water in urine, painful erections in men, blood

for sickle hemoglobin. This is called "sickle cell trait".

policeman, traps and destroys many of the abnormal sickle cells, resulting in rapid

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